Cueists walking a tightrope
CUE sports will have a bleak future if the national cueists do not deliver in the Sea Games.
From today, if they do not achieve the target of two gold medals, their tight-budget could be reduced further as the sport is not part of next year’s Indonesia Asian Games.
Rory Thor Chuan Leong will be the biggest loser if this happens as the Penang-born is funded by the National Sports Council (NSC) for his ongoing campaign in the World Snooker Tour.
Over the years, the Malaysian Snooker and Billiards Federation (MSBF) have been sourcing most of NSC’s funding to their snooker players for exposure, leaving those in the pool and English Billiards disciplines to fend on their own.
Rory is the biggest talent in Malaysian snooker since Sam Chong, having won a total of four Sea Games titles – one each in singles and six-red, and two in doubles.
Malaysia’s other talent, Moh Keen Hoo won the 2007 (Korat) singles and 2015 (Singapore) doubles (with Rory) gold medals.
Today, Rory and Moh Keen Hoo will pair up in the snooker doubles competition at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC), and MSBF hope they will give Malaysia a roaring opening day by retaining their gold medal.
Rory-Keen Hoo have an easy opener against Laos’ Phoutthabandit Daophachan-Sakbieng Siththideth in the best-of-five doubles competition.
If the Malaysians win, they will play either Singapore’s
Chan Keng Kwang and
Tey Choon Kiat or Indonesia’s Gebby Adi
Wibawa Putra-Yoni Rachmanto in the semifinals.
Snooker enthusiasts are expecting a repeat final between Malaysia and Thailand for the gold medal today.
Thailand are being represented by ex-professional Phaitoon Phonbun and two-time Sea Games snooker singles champion Issara Kachaiwong.
The other gold medal on offer today is English Billiards, where Malaysia’s Adwin Teh-Chooi Yew Wah are expected to be shown the exit in the first round by Singapore’s Peter Gilchrist-Yeo Teck Shin.
“We are relying on Rory and Keen Hoo to win the snooker singles and doubles gold medals. It will be tough in the men’s and women’s pool nine-ball, and English Billiards, as we have not been exposing our players in these disciplines,” said MSBF president Melvin Chia.
“We have a good draw in the snooker doubles and Rory-Keen Hoo should make the final for a possible repeat encounter against Thailand.
“The Thais did not name their professional players this time for the Sea Games. However, Issara and Phaitoon are as good as top professionals in Thailand.
“It will be a tricky affair for Malaysia if they go all the way into the final to face the Thais,”
However, Rory and Keen Hoo have been handed tough draws in the snooker singles which starts tomorrow.
Rory plays Thailand’s Phaitoon in the first round, while Keen Hoo will face 2015 edition finalist Htet Ko of Myanmar in the best-ofseven singles event.
It will be smooth sailing from then on for Rory if he beats Phaitoon. As for Keen Hoo, if the Penang-born beats Htet, he will likely face Thailand’s Issara in the second round.
“It is a tough draw but the good thing is that our players will meet their toughest opponents in the opening rounds. If they can overcome all adversities, it could be an all-Malaysian final.
“Rory has a poor record against Thai players, while Keen Hoo has a good record over them. It will be an interesting affair in the singles event.
“In men’s and women’s pool, our players have a chance to cause upsets as the nine-ball competition is unpredictable while I hope national coach Mike Russell can do something to raise our players’ standards in English Billiards,” Melvin added. Ajitpal Singh